Can't vote in person on Election Day?

Find out where to go on Election Day.

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Iowa voter registration

In Person: 10 days before primary and general elections. 11 days before all other elections. If you miss these deadlines, you can also register to vote on Election Day.

By Mail: Postmarked 15 or more days before Election Day.

Online: 10 days before Election Day.

If you have missed the voter registration deadline, you can still register to vote and a cast a ballot at the same time during early voting or on Election Day. Simply go to your regular polling place or early voting site to register and vote. Contact your Local Election Office if you have any questions.

To register in Iowa you must:

be a citizen of the United States

be a resident of Iowa

be at least 17‑1/2 years old (you must be 18 to vote)

not have been convicted of a felony (or have had your rights restored)

Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions.

Sign and date where indicated.

Mail your voted ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope.

Your voted ballot must arrive by the deadline or it will not be counted.

Iowa early voting

Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available

Early voting ends the day before Election Day.

Iowa voter ID

If you’re not voting for the first time in Iowa, you don’t need to provide ID to vote by mail or in person

You might need to show ID if you’ve never voted in Iowa before, you registered by mail, and you did not include your Iowa driver’s license number, Iowa non-operator’s ID card number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number on your registration form.

Acceptable forms of ID include:

Current photo ID

A copy of a current utility bill

A copy of a current bank statement

A copy of a current government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address

Absentee voters do not need to show ID.

Offsite links

Local Election Office: This is the government office responsible for running elections in your region. Theses are the best people to contact if you have any questions at all about voting in your state.